Importance

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Abstract

A lacrimal silicone stent has a very large diameter segment with a diameter greater than the largest diameter stent which can be pulled through the canaliculi readily without damaging the canaliculi, a thin central segment, a moderate diameter segment, and a distal segment with a lumen extending partway from its end. A lumen can also be provided in the very large diameter segment to enhance its flexibility. In addition, a lumina may be provided in the moderate diameter segment when it is formed as an extruded tube. Except for the lumina, the stent is solid. The stent may be molded in one piece, but it may also be made of molded and extruded segments which are fused together. To install the stent, according to a first method a sheath is inserted through the lacrimal system from the eye, through a DCR ostium into the nasal cavity. The distal segment is threaded into the sheath which is used to pull the distal segment back through the lacrimal system and out the superior canaliculus and punctum. A probe is inserted through a sidewall of the distal segment into the lumen. The probe is then pushed through the inferior punctum, the inferior canaliculus, the common canaliculus, the lacrimal sac and the DCR ostium into the nasal cavity. The probe is removed, and the stent is then pulled until the very large diameter segment is deployed transnasally through the DCR ostium. According to a second method, the distal segment of the stent is swaged on the probe which is used to feed the distal end of the stent through the sheath and help pull the very large diameter segment transnasally to stent the ostium.

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First Claim